The Union Minister of State for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Ashwini Kumar Choubey on Monday, July 31, informed about a number of schemes for the protection of The Western Ghats States during the Lok Sabha session.
The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) is implementing a number of schemes for the conservation of forests, wildlife, and the environment in different states and Union Territories, including the Western Ghats States.
These include the National Afforestation Programme, Integrated Development of Wildlife Habitat, Forest Fire Prevention and Management, Project Tiger, and National Mission for a Green India.
Funds under the Compensatory Afforestation Management & Planning Authority are also utilized for the conservation of forest and wildlife in the Western Ghats.
In order to protect and conserve Western Ghats, MoEFCC had constituted two Committees viz., the Western Ghats Ecology Expert Panel (WGEEP) headed by Prof. Madhav Gadgil and the High Level Working Group (HLWG) headed by Dr K. Kasturirangan to review the recommendations of the WGEEP.
On the basis of the report of the HLWG, MoEFCC brought out a draft notification on March 10, 2014, declaring biologically and culturally diverse areas as Eco-sensitive Areas, requiring protection and conservation.
Considering the views and concerns of the respective State Governments and addressing the concerns and apprehensions of the public/stakeholders, the draft of the Western Ghats Eco-sensitive Area was re-notified for the fifth time on July 6, 2022, and a committee has also been specifically constituted to assist in consultation with the State Governments for finalizing the notification.
The validity of the draft notification is till June 30, 2024.
